Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2010-11: Dylan Labbe made his debut in the Quebec midget AAA league — playing three games for the Levis Commandeurs — and skated for the Beauce-Amiante Elites. He had no points with 4 penalty minutes in his brief stint with Levis. Labbe was selected by Shawinigan in the fourth round (71st overall) in the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft.

2011-12: Labbe appeared in six games for Shawinigan during the regular season in three separate two-game stints and was with the Cataractes for the QMJHL playoffs after skating in Quebec AAA midget hockey with Levis. He appeared in a pair of games in September, re-joined Shawinigan for a two-game road trip in December and played in two March games – finishing +2 with no points and 7 penalty minutes. The Cataractes finished first in the East Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Labbe played in 4 of 7 playoff games and was +2 with 1 assist and no penalty minutes. In 42 midget games with the Commandeurs (including four playoff games) he scored 13 goals with 12 assists and had 30 penalty minutes.

2012-13: Labbe played in 61 games for Shawinigan in his first full QMJHL season and scored a goal for Canada’s U18 team in pre-tournament play – though he was not on the final roster for the 2013 World Junior Championship. In an otherwise forgettable season in which Shawinigan won just 15 games and finished last in the East Division, he scored 7 goals with 21 assists and was -40 with 57 penalty minutes. Labbe travelled to Sochi, Russia with Canada’s team and scored the only goal in a 4-1 pre-tournament loss to USA. However, he was injured and left off Canada’s roster as the team went on to win the gold medal. Labbe was ranked 74th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings and was selected by Minnesota in the fourth round (107th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.

2013-14: Labbe attended NHL training camp with the Wild before returning to Shawinigan for his second season. He made his pro debut at the end of March with Minnesota AHL affiliate Iowa following his junior season. Labbe scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was minus-3 with 4 penalty minutes in 11 AHL games with Iowa. He scored 9 goals with 18 assists and was -33 with 20 penalty minutes in 63 regular season games for Shawinigan. The Cataractes finished last in the East Division but received the final playoff berth despite winning just 20 games. Labbe was scoreless and -2 with 3 penalty minutes in three playoff games as Shawinigan was swept by Baie-Comeau in a first round series.

2014-15: Labbe once again finished the year with the Iowa Wild, skating in three games on an amateur tryout contract following his third QMJHL season with Shawinigan. He was -3 with no points nor penalties with the Wild. Labbe scored 15 goals with 36 assists and was +10 with 43 penalty minutes in 63 regular season games for the Cataractes. Shawinigan finished third in the East Division, falling to Halifax in a seven-game first-round series. Labbe scored 1 goal with 7 assists and was +1 with 15 penalty minutes in seven playoff games. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild in April 2015.

2015-16: Labbe worked to earn a spot in the lineup for the AHL’s Iowa Wild in his first pro season. Skating in 54 of 76 games, he scored 4 goals with 2 and was -7 with 50 penalty minutes. The Wild finished last in the Central Division, missing the playoffs.

Talent Analysis

Labbe is a gritty defender who takes care of business in his own zone first and isn't afraid to get his nose dirty while he's doing it. With great skating ability and good size, he can play plenty of minutes and is capable of shutting down the opposition's top lines. He has shown some offensive inclinations as his mobility allows him to join the rush and he can make a good first pass out of the zone.

Future

Labbe skated for Minnesota AHL affiliate Iowa in 2015-16, battling to stay in the lineup as a 20-year-old in his first pro season. An offensive threat from the blueline during his junior career, Labbe's main focus as a rookie was improving his defensive play. He also accumulated 50 penalty minutes, the most since his first season in the QMJHL. The experience gained this season should benefit him in the future but expectations have been tempered a bit as far as his scoring potential.

Photo: The Minnesota Wild’s 2014 first-round pick and top prospect, Alex Tuch, sets his sights on a national title for Boston College (courtesy of Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Wild‘s struggles this season cost head coach Mike Yeo his job, but a bigger problem than his decision-making threatens the Wild’s future success. The prospect pool lacks star quality. Though there has been plenty of trade babble, young stars and old come at premium prices. Rather than having a budding home-grown star waiting in the wings, the Wild’s recent run of below-average drafting has meant little flexibility for Chuck Fletcher, as well as an AHL team mired at the bottom of the standings.

Photo: It might be overstating things to call Christoph Bertschy’s North American debut ‘long-awaited’ but the 2012 sixth-rounder has long been one of the most promising prospects in the Wild system (courtesy of Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

By now it has become clear that fielding a competitive AHL team is just not part of Chuck Fletcher and the Wild’s plans. As of this writing, the Iowa Wild is again in last place in the AHL, with the fewest points and the most games played.

Photo: Harvard University product and current Quad City Mallard Steve Michalek is off to a good start as a pro, being named the ECHL rookie of the month for October (courtesy of Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)

Chuck Fletcher’s name comes up in the discussion for best general manager in the NHL. While his record is not without blemish, and he cannot really claim the title without a championship, the consensus is that he has done a good job of building a contending squad from one that seemed to be running in place. However, some of that success came at the cost of organizational depth. The AHL results have been poor, and misguided drafting takes some blame for the lack of skill in the developmental league.

Photo: Top Minnesota Wild prospect Alex Tuch should earn a larger role at the 2016 World Juniors for Team USA (courtesy of Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

July 4th, 2012 changed the Minnesota Wild’s course for the foreseeable future. Twin 13-year contracts for Zach Parise and Ryan Suter switched the Wild into win-now mode: an expensive and risky move that is easier announced than accomplished. Three seasons later, the team has qualified for the post-season in each season and won two playoff series total. Read more»